PAL -> NTSC disc conversion possible?

[nathanaa]

Ok, I'm trying to figure out if I can do something.

I've got a relative overseas, and we want to trade some DVDs. His are recorded in PAL format, mine in NTSC format. Both are region 0 discs. Now, he can play NTSC discs no problem, as his TV has some kind of converter I guess.

I, however, do not have such a thing in my TV. So, I am trying to figure out if I could use software to convert the PAL format discs he sends me into NTSC format discs. I've got DVDDecrypter, DVDShrink, DVDFab Gold, DVDRebuilder, DVD43.....I've read the Region Free section in Tools, but those tools only seem to allow me to play a PAL disc.

I'm trying to figure out if I can take a PAL disc and convert it to NTSC so I can watch it on my regular DVD player, and not have to sit in front of my laptop to watch the show. Can I do this with the programs I've got? Or do I need something else?

I've read about flashing the drive, but I'm not sure if that is somethign I want to try doing.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Forum Troll]

Converting PAL to NTSC can be a time consuming and often frustrating task. Go to Wal-Mart, spend $30 and get one of these:



It plays anything from anywhere. I did this, and it's SO much easier than trying to get all the bits and bobs to line up as you try to convert the disc.

[NiteLite]

Forum Troll ...
I saw that the unit you posted stated that it plays PAL and NTSC.
But this requires a "region free" and a "converter" .
Are you saying this unit has both and will play any DVD from anywhere no matter the region code or format?
Thanks as I am in need of exactly that but I dont see how for $30.

www.220-electronics.com. has ..Code Free - Region Free - Multi Region -
Multi Zone - Zone Free - DVD players for $79.00 and up. Guranteed to play any DVD anywhere in the world.

$30 and change would be a better deal if it does all that.
Thanks for any assistance.
NiteLite

[Forum Troll]

The player is multi-region (you can choose the desired region via a menu, or you can set it to region 0) and the NTSC/PAL conversion is done internally by the player with no other adapter needed, just connect the player to your TV and away you go. For example, I live in the US, and my R4 PAL copy of "Eating Raoul" plays just fine on my NTSC tv using this player.

[nathanaa]

So, I could get this Walmart player to *play* any disc, but I would still need to figure out a way to backup those other-format discs. That's what I really need to figure out (thanks for the info on that player though, I''ll definately check it out).

I guess my question still stand - is there a relatively simple way for me to convert PAL format discs to NTSC format discs on my computer, so I can watch them on a regular DVD player & TV? I don't want to have to sit in front of the computer to watch a show (except when I travel, but that's another matter entirely).

[Noahtuck]

I'm kind of at a loss here, no, there is no simple or fast way to convert PAL dvd's to NTSC......
Unless you buy the dvd player that forum troll suggested, hook it directly into a standalone dvd recorder and copy it to a dvd-r.

The dvd player forum troll listed will play ANY REGION & ANY FORMAT dvd. it will play pal dvd's from any region!!!
I bought one for my daughter last christmas and it still works great!! paid $35.00 for it has Component Video, S-Video and Composite Video outputs, Stereo audio and coaxial digital audio outputs.

Or as someone told me about, DVDsanta , if you rip the dvd to your HD & then use DVDsanta to convert it to NTSC, but you will only have the main movie or episode & not the menus, but then agaun with the first way i suggested you wont have any original menus either.
I have been dreaming, as 100 others have, of a program that will convert a whole dvd from PAL to NTSC kepping the original menus intact 8)

[NiteLite]

Hey Forum Troll & Noahtuck...
Thanks for the info!
I'm off to pick up a couple at that price.
I also reside in US but a big fan of "forgein" made films which are most times "PAL" and another region - if I want the original unedited version that the US companies usually edit and ruin before releasing them here.
Thanks again guys,

nathanaa...Thanks for the thread. I've been thinking about your original questions for about a month so thanks for letting me share the info.
NiteLite

[handyguy]

A PS2 can be made region free with an Action replay or GS disk, which you can get at any video game store.

[Noahtuck]

Hey Forum Troll & Noahtuck...
Thanks for the info!
I'm off to pick up a couple at that price.
I also reside in US but a big fan of "forgein" made films which are most times "PAL" and another region - if I want the original unedited version that the US companies usually edit and ruin before releasing them here.
Thanks again guys,
NiteLite

Yep, i also like and own alot of PAL dvd's. I was gonna actually pick up another one for a friend for X-mas cause she has some old crappy fisher that won't play anything

[NiteLite]

Fisher...now there's a name I havent heard in awhile.
Anyway I found Xploitedcinema dot com and really enjoy their offerings. (It's not an x-rated site as the url may suggest but some x material is there)
For instance "Kill Bill vol 1" here in the US had the famous black and white scenes mandated in order to prevent a NC-17 rating...(to much red blood) according to the MP ratings association.
However Korea offers the original in English with all the glorious color Quentin intended. PAL of course. So with the help of this thread that shouldnt be a problem too much longer.
I'm excited!
NiteLite

[Doramius]

You might be able to get that player even cheaper on eBay. Or eMail this guy, boblo_ebay@hotmail.com, and mention I referred you. You can get it for around $10 + S&H. He sells them region free already. The ones at Wal-mart may not be region free yet. There's a remote hack for it. It's really simple and I even think the user manual told me how to do it. Nice little unit and great to take on vacations in the car too. Highly recommended for a cheap, but well working piece of equipment. I have not had any problems with mine and I've been using it for well over a year. Takes just about everything I give it. I've discs I was sure I crapped up and it still played a few of them.

[nathanaa]

Converting PAL to NTSC can be a time consuming and often frustrating task. Go to Wal-Mart, spend $30 and get one of these:



It plays anything from anywhere. I did this, and it's SO much easier than trying to get all the bits and bobs to line up as you try to convert the disc.

Well, the local Walmart didn't have any, but the Radio Shack did. $40, so I picked one up and have been playing with it. Very simple, no frills, but unbelievably small. This thing is about the size of some of the portable DVD players out there - no kidding! Anyways.....

They do NOT convert any format however, but they are PAL/NTSC. They are also only able to play discs that are Region 1/All only. So, while I can play a PAL Region 1 disc, I don't think I'm going to run into that all that often. For Region 0 PAL discs this will be a decent unit I suppose. I still am going to eventually get a true Format Free/Region Free/Code Free DVD player. Probably a similar VHS player too, "just in case".

[nathanaa]

I'm going to have to look into that remote hack, I'll check the manual again. If you have it, I'd appreciate if you could drop me a PM with it. I'll check that eBay guy too, this is so small and simple it would be great for my mom I think. She get's a bit frazzled with things that have a lot of buttons and options and fancy displays. <chuckle> Good ole' mom......

[Doramius]

The remote hack is even here on the site. It's not really a hack, you go to the menu press the numbers corresponding to the area you need to go to, then choose your region. Make sure there is not disc in the try, hit menu, 1, 9, then choose your region. If you need more info on it, CLICK HERE! You'll be able to put in any region or format and it'll play it. The thing is incredibly small and easy to use. I haven't seen a thinner or smaller unit, than this one, other than the portable DVD players. And this one is not that much bigger. It feel like a feather when holding it too. My Discman feels like it's got more to it than this thing. It's about 9" wide, maybe 11" long, and barely 2" high.

I purchase a lot of other region DVDs because there are some movies I remember as a kid, but are not yet offered on DVD in the US. IE: The Night They Saved Christmas; Combat Academy; Super Fuzz; etc.